Goychay District
| Göyçay | |
|---|---|
| Rayon | |
.svg) Map of Azerbaijan showing Goychay rayon |
|
| Country | Azerbaijan |
| Capital | Goychay |
| Area | |
| • Total | 736 km2 (284 sq mi) |
| Population (2011) | |
| • Total | 111,400 |
| Postal code | 2300 |
| Telephone code | (+994) 20 |
| Website | www.goychay.az |
Goychay (Azerbaijani: Göyçay, Ҝөјчај, گويچاي) is a rayon of Azerbaijan located in the central part of the county. The region is famous for its pomegranate growing industry, and for its pomegranate festival.
Goychay rayon is located in Shirvan valley, at the footsteps of Greater Caucasus mountain range. It stretches for about 25 km from north to south and 40 km from east to west, making up 726 km2 in total. The capital of the district Goychay lies on the 216th km of Baku-Qazakh Highway and 18 km away from Ujar railway station. It borders Ismayilli rayon on the northeast, Kürdəmir on the southeast, Ujar on the south and Agdash on the west. Geographically, the rayon is divided into mountainous terrain and lowlands. Bozdag Qaramaryam mountain range makes up the mountainous part. The distance between Goychay rayon and capital Baku is 226 km. The rayon consists of a city and 55 villages. The biggest populated settlements include Bığır, Ləkçılpaq, Çaxırlı and İncə villages.
Goychay and Yukhari Shirvan rivers pass through the rayon which contributes to raw materials used for products used for construction. Goychay is rich with river rocks and soft sand, and the clay deposits found in the vicinity of Qarabaqqal village are used for brick production.
The name of the rayon was taken from Goychay River which means "Blue River" (Göy çay) in Azerbaijani language due to very clean nature and transparency of the river and light blue color of the water. Due to a 1859 earthquake in Shamakhi, many of its residents moved to west establishing a village of Goychay. Because of demographic growth, the Russian Imperial government created Goychay Uyezd within Baku Governorate during its administrative reforms in December 1867. The rayon was established as an administrative unit of Azerbaijan SSR on 8 August 1930.
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Wikipedia